U.S. patent application number 13/344266 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-01 for wireless light controller system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to LUMENPULSE LIGHTING INC.. Invention is credited to Gregory Campbell, Francois-Xavier Souvay.
Application Number | 20120274234 13/344266 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47067378 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120274234 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Campbell; Gregory ; et
al. |
November 1, 2012 |
WIRELESS LIGHT CONTROLLER SYSTEM AND METHOD
Abstract
In some examples, wireless light controller technology includes
methods and apparatuses. In other examples, the technology includes
one or more lights on a power line. Each light of the one or more
lights is individually controllable via power line communication
over the power line. The technology further includes a wireless
device configured to transmit wireless communication. The wireless
communication includes instructions to control the one or more
lights. The technology further includes a wireless light controller
configured to receive the wireless communication and transmit the
instructions to control the one or more lights over the power line
communication to the one or more lights.
Inventors: |
Campbell; Gregory; (Walpole,
MA) ; Souvay; Francois-Xavier; (Boucherville,
CA) |
Assignee: |
LUMENPULSE LIGHTING INC.
Montreal
CA
|
Family ID: |
47067378 |
Appl. No.: |
13/344266 |
Filed: |
January 5, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
315/294 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05B 47/19 20200101;
H05B 47/185 20200101; H05B 47/175 20200101 |
Class at
Publication: |
315/294 |
International
Class: |
H05B 37/02 20060101
H05B037/02 |
Claims
1. A wireless light controller system, comprising: one or more
lights on a power line, each light of the one or more lights being
individually controllable via power line communication over the
power line; a wireless device configured to transmit wireless
communication, the wireless communication comprises instructions to
control the one or more lights; and a wireless light controller
configured to receive the wireless communication and transmit the
instructions to control the one or more lights over the power line
communication to the one or more lights.
2. The wireless light controller system of claim 1, wherein the one
or more lights being individually addressable to control the one or
more lights.
3. The wireless light controller system of claim 2, wherein the
instructions to control the one or more lights comprise one or more
addresses for individual lights in the one or more lights.
4. The wireless light controller system of claim 1, further
comprising the wireless light controller further configured to
transmit the power line communication to a light in the one or more
lights based on a light address associated with the light.
5. The wireless light controller system of claim 1, wherein the
instructions to control the one or more lights comprise a color
temperature instruction for at least one of the one or more
lights.
6. The wireless light controller system of claim 5, wherein the
color temperature instruction comprises individual intensity
instructions for one or more color temperature light emitting
diodes (LEDs) in the one or more lights.
7. The wireless controller system of claim 1, wherein the wireless
light controller further configured to receive second instructions
to control the one or more lights over the power line communication
from the one or more lights and transmit second wireless
communication based on the second instructions; and the wireless
device further configured to receive the second wireless
communication, the second wireless communication comprises the
second instructions to control the one or more lights.
8. The wireless controller system of claim 1, wherein the wireless
light controller further configured to receive second instructions
over the power line communication from the one or more lights, the
second instruction comprises status information for the one or more
lights, and transmit second wireless communication based on the
second instructions; and the wireless device further configured to
receive the second wireless communication, the second wireless
communication comprises the status information for the one or more
lights.
9. A wireless light controller, comprising: a wireless transceiver
configured to receive wireless communication from a wireless
controller, the wireless communication comprises instructions for
control of one or more lights; a power line transceiver configured
to transmit power line communication to the one or more lights, the
power line communication comprises the instructions to control the
one or more lights; and a light instruction module configured to:
identify a first instruction to control of the one or more lights
in the wireless communication, and generate the power line
communication based on the first instruction to control the one or
more lights.
10. The wireless light controller of claim 9, wherein the
instructions to control the one or more lights comprise a color
temperature instruction for the one or more lights.
11. The wireless light controller of claim 12, wherein the color
temperature instruction comprises individual intensity instructions
for one or more color temperature light emitting diodes (LEDs) in
the one or more lights.
12. The wireless light controller of claim 9, further comprising
the light instruction module further configured to: identify a
second instruction to control the one or more lights in the power
line communication, and generate the wireless communication based
on the second instruction to control the one or more lights.
13. The wireless light controller of claim 9, further comprising
the light instruction module further configured to: identify a
second instruction in the power line communication, the second
instruction comprises status information for the one or more
lights, and generate the wireless communication based on the second
instruction.
14. The wireless light controller of claim 13, wherein the status
information comprises usage information, temperature information,
expected life information, color temperature information, or any
combination thereof.
15. A method for controlling a wireless light, comprising:
receiving wireless communication from a wireless controller, the
wireless communication comprises instructions for control of one or
more lights; identifying a first instruction to control of the one
or more lights in the wireless communication; generating the power
line communication based on the first instruction to control the
one or more lights; and transmitting power line communication to
the one or more lights, the power line communication comprises the
instructions to control the one or more lights.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: identifying a
second instruction to control the one or more lights in the power
line communication, and generating the wireless communication based
on the second instruction to control the one or more lights.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising: identifying a
second instruction in the power line communication, the second
instruction comprises status information for the one or more
lights, and generating the wireless communication based on the
second instruction.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the status information
comprises usage information, temperature information, expected life
information, color temperature information, or any combination
thereof.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the instructions to control the
one or more lights comprise one or more addresses for individual
lights in the one or more lights.
20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the transmitting the
power line communication to a light in the one or more lights based
on a light address associated with the light.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Light fixtures are, generally, hard-wired directly to light
controllers. However, due to the limited ability to retrofit wires
in a building, the hard-wired connections are challenging, if not
impossible, to re-configure in real-time. In some installations,
the light fixtures are wirelessly connected to light controllers.
However, due to the number of light fixtures in a typical building,
the wireless connections between individual light fixtures can
cause wireless communication collisions and increased latency,
thereby causing delays in a light fixture's response to a control
input. Thus, a need exists in the art for improved wireless light
controller processes and apparatuses for a light system with the
features as described herein.
SUMMARY
[0002] As a general overview of wireless light controller processes
and apparatuses for a light system (hereinafter referred to as
"technology"), the technology includes a wireless light controller
that communicates with one or more individually controllable lights
via power line communication over a power line and communicates
with a wireless device via wireless communications. For example, a
wireless controller (e.g., mobile phone, personal computing device,
etc.) transmits a wireless communication including an instruction
to change a color temperature for lights A-G. The wireless light
controller receives the wireless communication and converts the
wireless communication to a power line communication with the
instruction to change the color temperature for lights A-G. The
power line communication can include the individual addresses for
lights A-G to direct the power line communication to the correct
lights. The lights A-G receive the power line communication and
respond to the instruction to change the color temperature of the
light A-G. In this regard, the wireless light controller can
advantageously enable the conversion of wireless communication (in
this example, an inherently fast protocol with a high bandwidth
capacity with quality control features) to power line communication
(in this example, an inherently slow protocol with a low bandwidth
capacity with limited quality control features), thereby increasing
the available uses for light fixtures and decreasing the
installation time for light systems.
[0003] One approach to a wireless light controller is a system that
includes one or more lights on a power line. Each light of the one
or more lights is individually controllable via power line
communication over the power line. The system further includes a
wireless device configured to transmit wireless communication. The
wireless communication includes instructions to control the one or
more lights. The system further includes a wireless light
controller configured to receive the wireless communication and
transmit the instructions to control the one or more lights over
the power line communication to the one or more lights.
[0004] Another approach to a wireless light controller is a method
that controls a wireless light. The method includes transmitting
wireless communication. The wireless communication includes
instructions to control the one or more lights. The method further
includes receiving the wireless communication. The method further
includes transmitting the instructions to control the one or more
lights over the power line communication to the one or more
lights.
[0005] Another approach to controlling a wireless light is a
wireless light controller that includes a wireless transceiver
configured to receive wireless communication from a wireless
controller. The wireless communication includes instructions for
control of one or more lights. The wireless light controller
includes a power line transceiver configured to transmit power line
communication to the one or more lights. The power line
communication includes the instructions to control the one or more
lights. The wireless light controller includes a light instruction
module configured to identify a first instruction to control of the
one or more lights in the wireless communication and generate the
power line communication based on the first instruction to control
the one or more lights.
[0006] Another approach to controlling a wireless light is a method
that includes receiving wireless communication from a wireless
controller. The wireless communication includes instructions for
control of one or more lights. The method further includes
identifying a first instruction to control of the one or more
lights in the wireless communication. The method further includes
generating the power line communication based on the first
instruction to control the one or more lights. The method further
includes transmitting power line communication to the one or more
lights. The power line communication includes the instructions to
control the one or more lights.
[0007] Any of the approaches described herein can include one or
more of the following examples.
[0008] In some examples, the one or more lights are individually
addressable to control the one or more lights.
[0009] In other examples, the instructions to control the one or
more lights include one or more addresses for individual lights in
the one or more lights.
[0010] In some examples, the wireless light controller is further
configured to transmit the power line communication to a light in
the one or more lights based on a light address associated with the
light.
[0011] In other examples, the instructions to control the one or
more lights include a color temperature instruction for at least
one of the one or more lights.
[0012] In some examples, the color temperature instruction includes
individual intensity instructions for one or more color temperature
light emitting diodes (LEDs) in the one or more lights.
[0013] In other examples, the wireless light controller is further
configured to receive second instructions to control the one or
more lights over the power line communication from the one or more
lights and transmit second wireless communication based on the
second instructions. In some examples, the wireless device is
further configured to receive the second wireless communication.
The second wireless communication includes the second instructions
to control the one or more lights.
[0014] In other examples, the wireless light controller is further
configured to receive second instructions over the power line
communication from the one or more lights. The second instruction
includes status information for the one or more lights. In some
examples, the wireless light controller is further configured
transmit second wireless communication based on the second
instructions. In other examples, the wireless device is further
configured to receive the second wireless communication. The second
wireless communication includes the status information for the one
or more lights.
[0015] In some examples, the instructions to control the one or
more lights include one or more addresses for individual lights in
the one or more lights.
[0016] In other examples, the method further includes transmitting
the power line communication to a light in the one or more lights
based on a light address associated with the light.
[0017] In some examples, the instructions to control the one or
more lights include a color temperature instruction for the one or
more lights.
[0018] In other examples, the color temperature instruction
includes individual intensity instructions for one or more color
temperature light emitting diodes (LEDs) in the one or more
lights.
[0019] In some examples, the light instruction module further
configured to identify a second instruction to control the one or
more lights in the power line communication, and generate the
wireless communication based on the second instruction to control
the one or more lights.
[0020] In other examples, the light instruction module further
configured to identify a second instruction in the power line
communication. The second instruction includes status information
for the one or more lights. The light instruction module further
configured to generate the wireless communication based on the
second instruction.
[0021] In some examples, the status information includes usage
information, temperature information, expected life information,
color temperature information, or any combination thereof.
[0022] In other examples, the method further includes identifying a
second instruction to control the one or more lights in the power
line communication, and generating the wireless communication based
on the second instruction to control the one or more lights.
[0023] In some examples, the method further includes identifying a
second instruction in the power line communication, the second
instruction comprises status information for the one or more
lights, and generating the wireless communication based on the
second instruction.
[0024] In other examples, the status information includes usage
information, temperature information, expected life information,
color temperature information, or any combination thereof.
[0025] The wireless light controller systems and methods described
herein (hereinafter "technology") can provide one or more of the
following advantages. An advantage of the technology is that the
use of a wireless device with the power line communication in an
existing electrical infrastructure decreases the installation cost
of technology, thereby increasing the effective uses of the
technology. Another advantage of the technology is that the use of
the wireless device with the power line communication increases the
user's flexibility and/or range for configuring lights while
reducing the installation cost (e.g., reduced cable cost, reduced
labor cost, etc.), thereby increasing the effective uses of the
technology (e.g., use in retrofits of existing buildings, use in
remodels of existing buildings, use in new construction, etc.).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages
will be apparent from the following more particular description of
the embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in
which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout
the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale,
emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of
the embodiments.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary lighting
environment;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another exemplary lighting
environment;
[0029] FIG. 3. is a block diagram of an exemplary wireless light
controller;
[0030] FIG. 4 is a process diagram of an exemplary wireless light
controller method; and
[0031] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of another exemplary wireless light
controller method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] As a general overview of wireless light controller processes
and apparatuses for a light emitting diode (LED) light system
(hereinafter referred to as "technology"), the technology includes
a wireless light controller that communicates with one or more
individually controllable LEDS lights via power line communication
over a power line and communicates with a wireless device via
wireless communications. For example, a wireless controller (e.g.,
mobile phone, personal computing device, etc.) transmits a wireless
communication including an instruction to change a color
temperature for LED lights A-G.
[0033] The wireless light controller receives the wireless
communication and converts the wireless communication to a power
line communication with the instruction to change the color
temperature for LED lights A-G. The power line communication can
include the individual addresses for LED lights A-G to direct the
power line communication to the correct lights to change the color
temperature (e.g., change the color temperature of the lights to
2700 Kelvin, change the color temperature to 4500 Kelvin, change
the color temperature to 6000 Kelvin, etc.). The LED lights A-G
receive the power line communication and respond to the instruction
to change the color temperature. In this regard, the wireless light
controller can advantageously enable the conversion of wireless
communication (in this example, an inherently fast protocol with a
high bandwidth capacity with particular quality control features)
to power line communication (in this example, an inherently slow
protocol with a low bandwidth capacity with other types of quality
control features), thereby increasing the available uses for light
fixtures and decreasing the installation time for light
systems.
[0034] Another advantage of the technology is that the transition
between wireless communication and power line communication is
transparent to the end user controlling the light systems, thereby
decreasing configuration time and increasing customer satisfaction
with the configuration of the light system. Another advantage of
the technology is that the conversion between wireless
communication and power line communication advantageously bridges
communication between two different types of communication
techniques, thereby increasing the usability of the portable
configuration functionality of the technology.
[0035] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary lighting
environment 100. The environment 100 includes a wireless device
110, a plurality of wireless light controllers 120, 130, and 140,
and a plurality of lights A 124, B 124b through Z 124z, 134, and
144. The wireless device 110 is operated by an operator 105 (e.g.,
input light controls, adjust light controls, input light addresses,
etc.) and transmits wireless communication 115, 116, and 117 (e.g.,
instructions to control a light, instructions in response to a
control of a light, etc.) to the wireless light controller 120,
130, and 140, respectively. The wireless light controller 120, 130,
and 140 convert the wireless communication 115, 116, and 117, to
power line communication 122, 132, and 142, respectively, and
transmit the power line communication 122, 132, and 142 to the
lights A 124, B 124b through Z 124z, 134, and 144, respectively.
Each of the lights A 124, B 124b through Z 124z, 134, and 144 is
individually addressable based on a light address. The conversion
of the wireless communication to power line communication
advantageously decreases the installation cost of the light control
system by decreasing the cost to install and maintain wires between
the controlling device (in this example, the wireless device) and
the lights.
[0036] In operation, the wireless device 100 communicates with the
wireless light controllers 120, 130, and 140 via wireless
communication 115, 116, and 117, respectively (e.g., 802.11
protocol, wireless mesh network, wireless network, cellular
network, etc.). The wireless light controllers 120, 130, and 140
convert (e.g., embed the instructions in power line communication,
extract the instructions from the wireless communication and
generate a power line communication, etc.) the wireless
communication 115, 116, and 117 to power line communication 122,
132, and 142, respectively. The conversion of the wireless
communication into power line communication advantageously enables
the integration of portable, handheld control of lights into
existing power line control infrastructure, thereby reducing the
maintenance and control costs for a light system. The conversion of
the wireless communication into power line communication
advantageously increases the flexibility of the light system by
enabling portable, handheld control of the lights using existing
power line control infrastructure.
[0037] The wireless light controllers 120, 130, and 140 communicate
the power line communication 122, 132, and 142 (e.g., amplitude
modulation, digital power line carrier, pulse-position modulation,
etc.) to the lights A 124, B 124b through Z 124z, 134, and 144,
respectively. The wireless light controller 120 transmits the power
line communication 122 to the lights A 124a, B 124b through Z 124z.
The wireless light controller 130 transmits the power line
communication 132 to the light 134. The wireless light controller
140 transmits the power line communication 142 to the light
144.
[0038] In other examples, the conversion between wireless
communication and power line communication can include
identification of the instructions within the wireless
communication, identification of the addresses for the lights being
controlled by the instructions within the wireless communication,
and generation of the power line communication based on the
instructions, addresses, and/or protocol information associated
with the power line communication (e.g., amplitude format, quality
control requirements, etc.). In some examples, the conversation
between wireless communication and power line communication further
includes receiving a plurality of wireless packets and determining
when the instructions for particular lights are complete (e.g., all
of the wireless packets that include instructions have been
received, enough of the wireless packets have been received to
generate the power line communication, etc.).
[0039] In some examples, the lights A 124, B 124b through Z 124z,
134, and 144 communicate power line communication 122, 132, and 142
to the wireless light controllers 120, 130, and 140, respectively.
The wireless light controllers 120, 130, and 140 can convert the
power line communication 122, 132, and 142 to wireless
communication 115, 116, and 117, respectively, and communicate the
wireless communication 115, 116, and 117 to the wireless device
110. The wireless device 110 can display and/or provide feedback of
the power line communication to the operator 105.
[0040] In other examples, the conversion between power line
communication and wireless communication can include identification
of the instructions within the power line communication,
identification of the addresses for the lights being controlled by
the instructions within the power line communication, and
generation of the wireless communication based on the instructions,
addresses, and/or protocol information associated with the wireless
communication (e.g., packet format, quality control requirements,
etc.). In other examples, the conversation between power line
communication and wireless communication further includes receiving
a plurality of power line packets and determining when the
instructions for particular lights are complete (e.g., all of the
power line packets that include instructions have been received,
enough of the power line packets have been received to generate the
wireless communication, etc.).
[0041] In other examples, the lights A 124, B 124b through Z 124z,
134, and 144 are individually addressable for control of the
lights. The individual control of one or more of the lights
advantageously enables the operator 105 and/or the wireless device
110 to control a subset of the lights via a portable, handheld
device. In some examples, the wireless light controller 120, 130,
or 140 transmits the power line communication 122, 132, or 142 to a
light in the one or more lights based on a light address associated
with the light. In other words, the individualized addressing of
the lights enables the wireless light controllers 120 to focus
control activities on the lights that are being controlled by the
instructions.
[0042] In some examples, the instructions to control the one or
more lights include one or more addresses for individual lights in
the one or more lights. The wireless device 110 can include the
addresses for the individual lights in the wireless communication
115, 116, or 117. The wireless light controller 120, 130, or 140
can identify the addresses for the individual lights in the
wireless communication 115, 116, or 117 and can include the
addresses for the individual lights in the power line communication
122, 132, or 142. In other words, the power line communication 122,
132, or 142 can include individual addresses for a subset of the
lights for individualized control of the particular lights (e.g.,
reduce the intensity of half of the lights, change the color
temperature for every third light in a light array, etc.).
[0043] In other examples, the instructions to control the one or
more lights include a color temperature instruction for at least
one of the one or more lights. In some examples, the color
temperature instruction includes individual intensity instructions
for one or more color temperature light emitting diodes (LEDs) in
the one or more lights.
[0044] In other examples, the wireless communication includes any
type of network protocol (e.g., wifi, code division multiple access
(CDMA), time-division multiplexing (TDM), etc.). For example, the
wireless communication is in a transmission control protocol
(TCP)/internet protocol (IP). In this example, the wireless light
controller converts the TCP/IP wireless communication into a
carrier wave modulation power line communication. Table 1
illustrates exemplary conversions between wireless communication
and power line communication.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Exemplary Conversion Wireless Power Line
Wireless Commu- Power Line Commu- Communication nication
Communication nication Instruction Type Instruction Type Turn
Lights to 50% TCP/IP packet Turn Lights to 50% Pulse- Intensity
Intensity Position Modulation Change the Color User datagram Change
the Color Distribution Temperature of the protocol (UDP)
Temperature of the Line Carrier Lights packet Lights Change the
Position Real-time Change the Position Amplitude of the Lights
transport of the Lights Modulation protocol (RTP) packet Turn Every
other Wifi packet Turn Every other Pulse Light Off Light Off
Modulation
[0045] Although FIG. 1 illustrates the operator 105 utilizing the
wireless device 110 to control the lights, the wireless device 110
can control the lights based on any type of automated control
techniques. For example, the wireless device 110 can include a
light sensor and can control the lights based on the light detected
by the light sensor. As another example, the wireless device 110
can include a time schedule program and can control the lights
based on the time schedule program (e.g., turn the lights on at a
certain time, turn the lights to 50% intensity based on
pre-determined conditions, etc.).
[0046] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another exemplary lighting
environment 200. The environment 200 includes a wireless device
210, a wireless light controller 220, and a light fixture 230. An
operator 205 can modify a setting (e.g., intensity, color
temperature, aperture, etc.) for the light fixture 230 using the
wireless device 210. The wireless device 210 receives the
instructions to control the light fixture 230 from the operator 205
(e.g., moving a switch, change a setting on a graphical user
interface, etc.). The wireless device 210 transmits the
instructions via wireless packets 215 to the wireless light
controller 220. The wireless light controller 220 converts the
wireless packets 215 to a power line communication 225. The
wireless light controller 220 transmits the power line
communication 225 to the light fixture 230.
[0047] In this example, the wireless packets 215 are a fast
protocol (e.g., 1.5 megabytes per second, 100 megabytes per second,
etc.) and the power line communication 225 is a slow protocol
(e.g., 570 kilobits per second, 200 kilobits per second, etc.). In
other words, the wireless light controller 220 converts an
inherently fast protocol with particular types of quality control
characteristics (e.g., error control, transmission control, active
acknowledgment of receipt, etc.) to an inherently slow protocol
with limited quality control characteristics (e.g., multiple
re-sends to avoid lost packets, passive acknowledge of receipt,
etc.). The technology can advantageously handle both types of
quality control characteristics (i.e., the quality control
characteristics of the wireless communication and the quality
control characteristics of the power line communication), thereby
reducing communication losses associated with wireless
communication (e.g., packet collisions, channel latency, etc.) and
power line communication (e.g., electrical interference, magnetic
interference, etc.). The wireless light controller 220 can remove
the quality control characteristics and/or insert other types of
quality control characteristics to the power line communication.
The conversion between a fast protocol and a slow protocol
advantageously enables the technology to utilize existing
technology (e.g., power lines, light systems, etc.) with portable
control techniques (e.g., wireless device communicating via
wireless communication, an operator walking around an art museum
adjusting light intensities, etc.).
[0048] For example, the wireless light controller 220 receives
TCP/IP packets from the wireless device 210 and acknowledges
receipt of the TCP/IP packets to ensure quality control of the
communication. In this example, after receiving the TCP/IP packets,
the wireless light controller 220 determines the instructions to
control the light fixture 230 and generates a power line
communication (e.g., a set of amplitude modulations for the
instructions, a digital modulation for the instructions, etc.). The
generated power line communication includes the instructions to
control the light fixture 230.
[0049] In some examples, the light fixture 230 transmits the power
line communication 225 to the wireless light controller 220. The
wireless light controller 220 converts the power line communication
225 to the wireless packets 215 and transmits the wireless packets
215 to the wireless device 210. In this example, the power line
communication 225 and the wireless packets 215 include instructions
which include status information for the light fixture 230. For
example, the status information includes that the lights are at 50%
intensity and are running at 87 degrees Celsius. As another
example, the status information includes that the lights are at 78%
operational life expectancy.
[0050] For example, the wireless light controller 220 receives a
wireless communication (in this example, a set of attached resource
computer network (arcnet) packets) from the wireless controller
210. The wireless light controller 220 identifies a DMX512
instruction within the wireless communication by analyzing the
packet headers of the wireless communication. In this example, the
wireless light controller 220 identifies a DMX512 "Start Code" in
the wireless communication.
[0051] As another example, the wireless light controller 220
receives a wireless communication (in this example, a set of
TCPI/IP packets) from the wireless controller 210. The wireless
light controller 220 identifies a remote device management (RDM)
instruction within the wireless communication by analyzing the
packet format of the wireless communication. In this example, the
wireless light controller 220 identifies a universe of the RDM
protocol from the wireless communication. The wireless light
controller 220 utilizes the identified universe during the
conversion of the wireless communication to the power line
communication (in other words, the power line communication is
directed to the appropriate lights within the universe).
[0052] In some examples, the wireless light controller 220 stores,
via a storage device, a plurality of wireless communication and/or
power line communication. The wireless light controller 220 can
group instructions for a light, a set of lights, and/or lights
associated with a power line together to reduce the communication
overhead associated with establishing a communication channel
(e.g., wireless communication channel, power line communication
channel, etc.). In other examples, the wireless light controller
220 receives an instruction for a set of lights A and holds the
instruction for the set of lights A for a set time period (e.g., 10
milliseconds, 1 second, etc.), a dynamic time period (e.g., average
time period between instructions, time from last instruction, etc.)
and/or any other type of parameter (e.g., predetermined number of
instructions, predetermined number of lights being addressed by the
instructions, dynamic percentage of lights being addressed, etc.).
For example, the wireless light controller 220 receives five
instructions for a set of lights B via wireless communication,
groups the five instructions together (e.g., one packet with all
five instructions, two packets with the five instructions split
between the two packets, etc.), and transmits the grouped
instructions to the set of lights via power line communication.
[0053] FIG. 3. is a block diagram of an exemplary wireless light
controller 320. The wireless light controller 320 includes a
wireless transceiver 322, a power line transceiver 324, a light
instruction module 326, a processor 394, and a storage device 395.
The modules and devices described herein can, for example, utilize
the processor 394 to execute computer executable instructions
and/or the modules and devices described herein can, for example,
include their own processor to execute computer executable
instructions (e.g., a protocol processing unit, a field
programmable gate array processing unit). It should be understood
the wireless light controller 320 can include, for example, other
modules, devices, and/or processors known in the art and/or
varieties of the illustrated modules, devices, and/or
processors.
[0054] The wireless transceiver 322 receives wireless communication
from a wireless controller. The wireless communication includes
instructions for control of one or more lights. The power line
transceiver 324 transmits power line communication to the one or
more lights. The power line communication includes the instructions
to control the one or more lights.
[0055] The light instruction module 326 identifies an instruction
to control of the one or more lights in the wireless communication
and generates the power line communication based on the instruction
to control the one or more lights. In some examples, the light
instruction module is further configured to identify another
instruction to control the one or more lights in the power line
communication and generate the wireless communication based on the
other instruction to control the one or more lights.
[0056] In other examples, the light instruction module identifies
another instruction in the power line communication. The other
instruction includes status information for the one or more lights.
In some examples, the light instruction module generates the
wireless communication based on the other instruction.
[0057] In some examples, the instructions to control the one or
more lights include a color temperature instruction for the one or
more lights. In other examples, the color temperature instruction
includes individual intensity instructions for one or more color
temperature light emitting diodes (LEDs) in the one or more lights.
In some examples, the status information includes usage information
(e.g., 1134 hours of usage, 45 kilowatts of power used, etc.),
temperature information (e.g., operating between 65-75 degrees
Celsius, highest operating temperature of 78 degrees Celsius,
etc.), expected life information (e.g., 34 hours of usage
remaining, 56 days of usage remaining, etc.), and/or color
temperature information (e.g., current color temperature setting,
previous five color temperature settings, etc.).
[0058] The processor 394 executes the operating system and/or any
other computer executable instructions for the wireless light
controller 320 (e.g., executes applications). The storage device
395 stores light information and/or control information (e.g.,
light fixture serial number, light fixture address, light fixture
usage, etc.). The storage device 395 can include a plurality of
storage devices and/or the wireless light controller 320 can
include a plurality of storage devices (e.g., a protocol storage
device, an instruction storage device). The storage device 395 can
include, for example, long-term storage (e.g., a hard drive, a tape
storage device, flash memory), short-term storage (e.g., a random
access memory, a graphics memory), and/or any other type of
computer readable storage.
[0059] FIG. 4 is a process diagram of an exemplary wireless light
controller method 400 utilizing, for example, the wireless device
210 of FIG. 2 and the wireless light controller 220 of FIG. 2. The
wireless device 210 transmits (410) wireless communication to the
wireless light controller 220. The wireless communication includes
instructions to control the one or more lights (e.g., the light
fixture 230). The wireless light controller 220 receives (420) the
wireless communication. The wireless light controller 220 transmits
(430) the instructions to control the one or more lights over the
power line communication to the light fixture 230.
[0060] In some examples, the instructions to control the one or
more lights include one or more addresses for individual lights in
the one or more lights. In other examples, the wireless light
controller 220 transmits (435) the power line communication to a
particular light in the light fixture 420 based on a light address
associated with the light. The addressing of a particular light
advantageously enables the technology to reduce energy consumption
and decrease maintenance costs by focusing the control of the
lights on particular lights (e.g., light focused on a particular
art work, lights outlining a door, etc.).
[0061] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of another exemplary wireless light
controller method 500 utilizing, for example, the wireless light
controller 220 of FIG. 2. The wireless light controller 220
receives (510) wireless communication from a wireless controller
(e.g. the wireless controller 210 of FIG. 2). The wireless
communication includes instructions for control of one or more
lights. The wireless light controller 220 identifies (520) a first
instruction to control of the one or more lights in the wireless
communication. The wireless light controller 220 generates (530)
the power line communication based on the first instruction to
control the one or more lights. The wireless light controller 220
transmits (540) the power line communication to the one or more
lights. The power line communication includes the instructions to
control the one or more lights.
[0062] In some examples, the wireless light controller 220
identifies (550) a second instruction to control the one or more
lights in the power line communication. The wireless light
controller generates (560) the wireless communication based on the
second instruction to control the one or more lights.
[0063] Comprise, include, and/or plural forms of each are open
ended and include the listed parts and can include additional parts
that are not listed. And/or is open ended and includes one or more
of the listed parts and combinations of the listed parts.
[0064] One skilled in the art will realize the invention may be
embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit
or essential characteristics thereof. The foregoing embodiments are
therefore to be considered in all respects illustrative rather than
limiting of the invention described herein. Scope of the invention
is thus indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the
foregoing description, and all changes that come within the meaning
and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be
embraced therein.
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